"Jace!" I called out, walking into each room and checking to see if he was in each one. The... moment between us needed to be sorted out, and as soon as possible so I could calm down properly. Right now, my heart was pounding with – I didn't know what. He was Val's soon-to-be-husband for God's sake, there was nothing I should be feeling for him!
As I neared the bathroom, I heard sounds of running water and realised he was taking a shower. How long he'd been in there, I didn't know, so I just hung around in my bedroom, drawing roses, and leaves, each one bloodier than the one before. The same mesmerising image each time.
When the water stopped running, I stopped drawing, listening out for Jace. Nothing; that was odd. I opened the door carefully, peering around the corner. The bathroom door was ajar, a familiar tanned hand reaching out to grab the towel before closing again. I bit my lip, heading into the kitchen to make a grilled cheese sandwich.
When it was done, I smacked my lips together, reaching out to take a bite...
"That smells heavenly. You make another one?" Damn that British accent.
"Sorry, no." I forced my voice to remain steady, strong. I could smell the scent of mango shower gel on him, the hint of sweat that made my head spin. I didn't realise what was happening before he leaned down and took a huge bite out of the sandwich, grinning at me. "Oh my god, that's gross!" I dropped the sandwich back on the plate with a loud sigh, folding my arms.
"Does this mean I can have it?" Jace smirked. I rolled my eyes.
"Well, there's no way I'm eating it now." He laughed but didn't make a move to take it. We sat there in an awkward silence before I was brave enough to break it. "Look, about what happened earlier..." Jace nodded, golden eyes piercing through my green ones.
"Yeah?" I swallowed.
"Let's just forget about it, okay? For both our sakes." He paused before nodding again.
"So, bonding time?" I blanched then snorted, remembering our conversation from that morning, while he'd been keeping the remote captive from me.
"I guess. What do you want to do?" Jace cocked his head to the side like a bird, assessing me.
"I don't mind, really. As long as it doesn't involve ducks." I scoffed, eyeing him curiously.
"Ducks?"
He nodded firmly, his lips quirking up at the corners, "Yep. Traumatic childhood experience. Long story short, never trust a duck." I laughed.
"Okay then, no ducks. How about watching something? Like, The Flash, or Gotham..."
"Gotham. I love that show."
"Same! That's settled then." We walked into the living room, sitting down on the sofa, as I flipped all the way back to Season 1, where the young David Mazouz lived in his mansion. I didn't know how many episodes we were going to watch, but knowing Gotham and its addicting storyline, I'd say we'd be here for most of the day at the least.
Curling my legs up alongside me, I looked over to Jace who was staring intently at the screen, hands clasped behind his neck. A naughty thought crossed my mind about his hands, about where else he could put them, and I flushed red immediately, cursing my inner thoughts. Jesus, what was this guy doing to my head...?
The hours passed bit by bit, Jace and me occasionally laughing or gasping at something said by one of the characters. I don't how it happened, but we'd been unconsciously moving closer towards each other, until my head was just resting on his shoulder, his chin brushing the top of my head. It filled me with a warm, fuzzy feeling that made my heart skip a beat.
Jace clearly didn't notice though, too engrossed in the TV to even realise what position we were currently in but I swear his hand brushed through my hair once or twice. Maybe he wasn't aware he was doing it. Just when the episode about the Scarecrow and his crazy dad finished, the credits rolling up, the front door opened with a bang and Val started talking.
"Oh my god, you wouldn't believe the queues in H&M! Like, it was unbelievable..." Jace and I sprang apart instantly, wide-eyed, as Val walked into the room. She smiled at us, seemingly happy at the sight of us not swearing at each other, "Oh, are you guys getting along alright?"
Jace cleared his throat, not meeting my eyes, "Just fine and dandy." I fought the urge of blushing, unable to get the thought of me and Jace cuddling close on the sofa out of my head. Holy shit, we'd been cuddling... would things have gone further if Val hadn't come home in time? I wished and dreaded to think.
"That's great! What were you watching?" She flopped down between us on the sofa, blue eyes sparkling, her bags of shopping left near the doorway.
"Gotham." The word felt like they'd been stuck in my throat and it took a lot of effort to push it out. Val made a face.
"Ugh, that show's so boring half the time... I mean, it's DC comics, it's bound to be crap!" Jace frowned, but didn't comment, wrapping an arm around Val's shoulder. It stung to see him touch her like that so intimately but then I reminded myself sternly: She's his fiancée, Heaven forbid, of course he'd touch her like that!
She leaned into him, a blissful look on her face and I turned numb on the inside, horrified at the jealousy, the envy I was feeling towards my own sister right now.
Val smiled, completely oblivious to the awkward situation, "Well, let's watch something else... say Coronation Street?" I sighed, getting up quickly.
"And that's my cue to leave." Val rolled her eyes, her brown braid resting delicately on her shoulder. Of course Jace would love my sister: she was beautiful, talented, and simply... Val. I was Clary, her younger sister, with carrot red hair and annoying freckles, and weird drawing obsessions. Sometimes, I wondered if we were even related, we were so different. I was always going to be second-best to Val. Always.
"Oh, c'mon Clary! Can't you suck it up just this once? I know you hate it-"
"'Hate it' is an understatement." I winked half-heartedly, "Have fun without me!" She laughed, before getting the remote to swap channels. I felt the burning of eyes on my back as I went to exit the room, and sure enough, when I turned around, Jace was staring right at me.
I swallowed nervously, getting lost in their golden depths. Then I looked at my sister, smiling brightly as she held the remote, her hand resting on Jace's affectionately, the diamond ring shining in the light. I couldn't do this to her, it wouldn't be fair and it would break her heart. I couldn't do that to Val.
I bit my lip, turning my back on Jace and leaving the room, heading straight to mine and slamming the door shut. When did things get so freaking complicated?
Grabbing my pencil and my pad, I started a new drawing, one of a lion. My heart was beating fast as I drew the wide-spaced amber eyes, narrowed slightly. Then the golden mane, rich honey-like strands like fine gold thread, until I realised I wasn't drawing a lion at all...
Jace gazed at me from the page, those tawny eyes making my skin heat up, make my heart nearly burst out of my chest. The memory was still fresh in my mind; his breath stirring the hairs on the top of my head. An idle thought swam into my head and refused to go away – what if I turned my head just slightly, so my lips were a mere few centimetres away from his?
I blushed furiously; it was these kinds of thoughts that would get me into trouble. Jace and Val were engaged, they loved each other. I would have to be most selfish person in the world to try and get in the way of their relationship!
I gulped, crumpling the page into a ball and chucking into the bin, unable to look at those eyes any more. Starting on a new page, I traced the lines of a heart, the traditional Valentine shape, but with scars and bruises obscuring it. Smudging along the way with my thumb, I sketched plasters and bandages stuck haphazardly on it. No matter how many remedies it took, the heart still remained broken.
I let out a long sigh. It was no use denying the obvious: I was crushing on my sister's fiancé. Hard.
God help me.
Clary's finally admitted it! To be honest, she's lasted much longer than I would've - who else is stubborn enough to resist the charms of Jace Herondale? ;)
Did you like this chapter? Live up to your expectations?
~InfernoAlive
